After arriving at Zaanse Schans, which is less than 20 minutes from Amsterdam, we decided to first go to the Dutch wooden shoe workshop. We had never seen Dutch wooden clogs before and was interested in learning more about these shoes.

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Outside the Dutch wooden shoe workshop

Outside the Dutch wooden shoe workshop, there are a few HUGE and colorful wooden shoes or clogs outside. They are perfect for taking pictures – you can either sit in them or stand up – your choice! It was quite fun!

Zaanse Schans Dutch Wooden Shoe Workshop from Outside

Inside the Dutch wooden shoe workshop

Entrance to the workshop is free! When you enter, there is a long passage which serves as a type of a museum showing the history of Dutch wooden shoes.

Welcome sign at the entrance of the Dutch wooden shoe shop

The variety of Dutch wooden shoes

I never knew there was such a variety of Dutch wooden shoes. For weddings, you get the shoes decorated with elaborate carvings, very detailed and quite lovely.

Wedding wooden shoes

There are also different types of wooden shoes for working or sports events. There are even silly ones like this pair of Heineken wooden shoes.

Heineken Wooden Shoes

Dutch wooden shoes can also be used as decor inside your house. Just add a few wooden tulips and you are set to go!

Wooden shoe decorations

Shoe-making demonstrations

The Dutch wooden shoe workshop also offers regular demonstrations of how they used to make wooden shoes in the olden days compared to now. Even with the faster methods currently used, the shoes still need a few days to dry out before decoration takes place. I was really impressed with the presenter as he could speak so many languages, even Mandarin!

Dutch wooden shoe workshop demonstration

The workshop sells a vast range of wooden shoes covering different sizes and decorations. There is a pair for everyone! We tried some on, and they felt quite comfortable but felt that it would take us a while to get used to since it feels different to regular shoes. Coming from South Africa with our really weak currency, we found the actual sized wooden shoes a bit pricey at around Euro 40 – 60.

Dutch Wooden Shoe workshop at Zaanse Schans

Dutch wooden shoe souvenirs

The workshop also sells other types of souvenirs, such as key rings and mini wooden shoes as memorabilia. We had a difficult time choosing what we wanted to buy for friends and family.

Visiting this wooden shoe workshop is definitely worth visiting for some insight into an old Dutch tradition!